From the Top

[taustin]

I have been experiencing a problem and I'm hoping maybe you can help. 6 or 7 times during a round I throw my hands outside from the top. usually with a short or mid iron but sometimes off the tee. I know (i think) my right shoulder and hands start out from the top instead of starting down. Is there any drill or swing thought you might offer to help get this under control?

[Matt]

There are a couple things you can think about to fix an "over plane" right shoulder startdown.

• Turn your right shoulder to the inside aft (rear) quadrant of the ball.
• Take your PP3 (right forefinger) to the inside aft quadrant of the ball
• Work on downstroke waggles - from the top, look and feel the correct motion of an on-plane right shoulder startdown. Go slow, and move back and forth between a Top position and halfway down. It's simply rehearsing that first move down to get it into your Computer.

This should give you a completely different startdown feeling than you've been having. The right shoulder needs to go not ONLY down and not ONLY out, but instead both at the same time to keep the shoulder on-plane.

[12 piece bucket]

There are a couple things you can think about to fix an "over plane" right shoulder startdown.

• Turn your right shoulder to the inside aft (rear) quadrant of the ball.
• Take your PP3 (right forefinger) to the inside aft quadrant of the ball
• Work on downstroke waggles - from the top, look and feel the correct motion of an on-plane right shoulder startdown. Go slow, and move back and forth between a Top position and halfway down. It's simply rehearsing that first move down to get it into your Computer.

This should give you a completely different startdown feeling than you've been having. The right shoulder needs to go not ONLY down and not ONLY out, but instead both at the same time to keep the shoulder on-plane.

Good post! Downstroke Waggles are HUGE!

Try this too . . . Annikan Ballstriker gave me this gem. You probably don't want to do this in a "LIVE" swing. But in slow motion swing to the TOP. Then while KEEPING your shoulders TURNED, move your UPPER RIGHT ARM (bicep part) to your RIGHT BOOB allowing your hips to move forward while you stay Turned. You will feel stress across your back. Feel like you are putting pressure into the ground through your feet. Welcome to Pivot Lag. Do this in a mirror. Report back . . .

Here's what it looks like . . .

[Fred Brattain]

The one that works for me when that happens is the image of keeping my right hand (wrist pointed up) sliding along the underside of the pane of glass plane that we all use as an image for the swing plane. This makes me drop and rotate the right shoulder rather than throw the club at the ball. BTW the over the top move normally comes (at least for me) from an indecision as to whether or not I have enough club in my hands to reach my target. It tends to be a "I am going to HAMMER THIS PUPPY" kind of swing When I am sure I have pulled the right stick from my bag, or pulled enough that I can take a shorter swing and still get there, I don't tend to come over the top at the ball. Kind of like the idea that when you are laying up you tend to hit your best shots because you aren't TRYING to do something other than simply advance the ball to a good spot on the short grass. 90% of this game is 80% mental......

Obi WunPutt

[Doug]

Good post! Downstroke Waggles are HUGE!

Try this too . . . Annikan Ballstriker gave me this gem. You probably don't want to do this in a "LIVE" swing. But in slow motion swing to the TOP. Then while KEEPING your shoulders TURNED, move your UPPER RIGHT ARM (bicep part) to your RIGHT BOOB allowing your hips to move forward while you stay Turned. You will feel stress across your back. Feel like you are putting pressure into the ground through your feet. Welcome to Pivot Lag. Do this in a mirror. Report back . . .

Here's what it looks like . . .

Bouquet

Your best post ever...

Downstroke waggle with shoulders coiled is one super drill.

Thx

[taustin]

thanks guys.. gives me something to work on. over swinging may very well be the culprit. tried pulling an extra club today and saw a little improvement.

[annikan skywalker]

Good post! Downstroke Waggles are HUGE!

Try this too . . . Annikan Ballstriker gave me this gem. You probably don't want to do this in a "LIVE" swing. But in slow motion swing to the TOP. Then while KEEPING your shoulders TURNED, move your UPPER RIGHT ARM (bicep part) to your RIGHT BOOB allowing your hips to move forward while you stay Turned. You will feel stress across your back. Feel like you are putting pressure into the ground through your feet. Welcome to Pivot Lag. Do this in a mirror. Report back . . .

Here's what it looks like . . .

What's HUGE?..the downstroke waggles or the Right BOOB?

[Rob2197]

I used to have a problem with this.

I got rid of my tendency by using a hip slide (10-14-B).

The hips help move the right elbow into a release position.

It seems very similar to a standard hip turn (10-14-A) but the hip turn says a free turn in both directions which implys to me that it would be good for a swinger. The hip slide says weight shift in both directions which to me sounds like it would be good for a hitter.

Anyway, it worked for me. Hope it helps.

[taustin]

Got it working today. Man, it's a whole different game when you get in position. Thanks to all. this is a great place

[johngolf33]

Any suggestions for staring down slowly when one is Drive Loading. I played today with winds 20-30 mph and the urge to start down quickly was overwhelming at times. I focussed on setting the Lag Pressure Point with the pivot and tried to drive the #3 ppt downplane with paddle wheel action all the way to both arms straight. It was fine most of the time but it was difficult to start down slowly. Any tips from the top out there?